International Women’s Day: Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions leaders in hiring

As we mark International Women’s Day, the Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions are leading the charge when it comes to putting women in high profile positions, typically held by men for decades.

In January, the Canucks made Émilie Castonguay the first-ever assistant general manager in franchise history and only the second in the entire NHL.

Castonguay was the first female NHLPA certified agent in Canada in 2016. In addition to her many accolades off the ice, she also has experience playing, having been part of NCAA Division 1 hockey at Niagara University for four years.

Happy #InternationalWomensDay!

Today and everyday, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of women and girls to the game of hockey and beyond, and push for more progress towards achieving gender equality.#Canucks | #IWD2022 pic.twitter.com/4eI5ZIqooT

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 8, 2022

A couple of weeks later, Cammi Granato was also named assistant GM for the team.

Granato, a two-time Olympic medalist for the U.S., including gold at the 1998 Nagano games, was a pro scout for new cross-border rivals the Seattle Kraken.

She played in every World Championship from its inauguration in 1990 up until 2004. She announced her retirement from hockey in 2005. Granato was inducted into the International Hockey of Fame in 2008, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, and finally the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010.

Related articles:

• Vancouver Canucks name Émilie Castonguay first female assistant GM in team history

• Hall of Famer Cammi Granato named Vancouver Canucks’ assistant GM

Both hirings came shortly after the Canucks brought on Rachel Doerrie in an analytics role.

Doerrie has a commerce degree in Sports Administration and works in player/prospect video analysis. She was later hired as an analytics advisor for Nipissing University before serving as an analyst for the New Jersey Devils. She’s also worked as a Hockey Operations video coach for the Sudbury Wolves.

When Jim Rutherford was hired as President of the @Canucks, he took a very progressive approach to filling out his new Front Office staff.@SNChrisSimpson spoke with @emcastonguay007, @CammiGranato, @racheldoerrie and Jim Rutherford about these franchise altering hires. #IWD2022 pic.twitter.com/CmGI3ADZCT

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 5, 2022

The shattering of the glass ceiling in recent months isn’t limited to hockey. The BC Lions’ hiring of Tanya Walter as the team’s defensive assistant made her the first female full-time coach in CFL history.

“If football is something you want to be a part of, regardless of the level or the position … just work towards it, just go for it. Never assume that there’s anything standing in your way,” Walter told the Move the Chains podcast.

"Never assume that there is anything standing in your way.."

On #InternationalWomensDay, hear from @tanzz32, Jo-Anne Polak & @Buccaneers coach Lori Locust on breaking barriers ????@MoveChains presented by @RBC & Doman Building Materials.

Subscribe ???? | https://t.co/zlVjSf0yWf pic.twitter.com/GJLxIFWmtE

— BC LIONS (@BCLions) March 8, 2022

Walter, who was born in Forestburg, Alberta, began her football career in 2013 as a player with the Edmonton Storm of the Western Women’s Canadian Football League. She went on to represent Team Alberta and Team Canada, helping the national women’s team win a silver medal at the IFAF Women’s World Championship in 2017.

She coached high school football in Edmonton from 2017-21 and made a guest coaching appearance with the CJFL Edmonton Huskies. Walter has also served as an assistant for the West Edmonton Raiders girls tackle football team.

Related article: BC Lions add Tanya Walter, CFL’s first full-time female coach

All four women have said that their gender was never mentioned in the hiring process and they look forward to the day when a hiring such as theirs will no longer be a headline.

With files from Sandra Prusina, Hana Mae Nassar, Martin MacMahon, and Sportsnet Staff